skive
/skaiv/
Definition
- Verb:
- To remove a thin layer from the surface of a material, especially leather or rubber, typically to make it thinner or smoother. This is the primary meaning, often used in manufacturing or crafting contexts.
- (British English, informal) To avoid work or duty; to shirk. This is a common informal and figurative extension of the meaning.
Usage and Examples
Verb (Literal meaning):
- The artisan will skive the leather to make it more pliable for the bag.
- This machine is used to skive rubber sheets to a precise thickness.
Verb (Informal/British meaning):
- He tried to skive off work by pretending to be ill.
- Don't skive during the group project; everyone needs to contribute.
Advanced Usage
- "To skive off": This is a very common phrasal verb, almost always used in the informal sense of avoiding work or an obligation.
- She skived off school to go to the cinema.
- Half the office skived off early on Friday.
Variants and Related Words
- Skiver (noun): A person who avoids work (informal).
- Skiving (noun/gerund): The act of avoiding work.
Synonyms
- For the literal meaning: Pare, shave, trim, thin.
- For the informal meaning: Shirk, slack off, malinger, dodge, avoid.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Skive off: As detailed above, meaning to avoid work or duty.
- They planned to skive off the meeting and go for a coffee instead.
Notes on Meaning
The word has two distinct meanings. The first is a specific technical term used in trades like leatherworking. The second, more common in everyday British English, is an informal and often disapproving term for avoiding responsibilities. The connection likely comes from the idea of "paring away" or "removing" oneself from a duty.
Verb
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remove the surface of
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skive leather
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